US-based in-orbit space logistics company Spaceflight Inc. has signed a launch services agreement with German launch startup Isar Aerospace. This is the first time Isar has signed a launch services contract with a US-based customer.
The agreement is for a dedicated launch aboard an Isar Spectrum flight to a sun-synchronous orbit that will be launched in 2026 from Andøya in Norway. It also includes a provision for a second dedicated flight that would be launched in 2025.
“We’ve seen an increased demand for flexible and affordable launch options around the globe, but especially for our European-based customers,” says Curt Blake, CEO, and president of Spaceflight. “We’re very much looking forward to working with Isar Aerospace to help us meet that growing need.
Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to be capable of delivering 1,000 kg payloads to low Earth orbit. The maiden flight of Spectrum is planned for 2023. According to Isar, development, and testing of the vehicle are “progressing well.”
This latest contract adds to the company’s growing launch manifest. Isar signed its first launch contract with Airbus in April 2021 to deliver an Earth observations satellite to orbit. Since then, the company has signed contracts with OroraTech, EnduroSat, Astrocast, and D-Orbit.
Despite the company’s clearly talented sales and funding-raising teams (the company has raised over €165 million to date), Isar has struggled to put together an equally impressive list of technical milestones. A notable milestone that is still outstanding is the first hot fire test of the company’s Aquila rocket engine. Once this key element of the rocket’s development is complete, the company will be able to shrug off some of its harshest critics and proceed to delivering on its growing list of launch contracts.
Everything you need to know about Isar Aerospace.
